Elastic material



June 8 1926.

W. H. FROST ELASTIC MATERIAL Filed Nov. l8 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1gvmmmtoz June 8,1926. v 1,58%;180 r W. H, FROST ELASTIC MATERIAL FiledNov. 18, 1 925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 8, 1926.

UNITED STATES,

1,588,180 PA-TENT OFFICE.

WARREN H. FROST, 0]! LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

' ELASTIC MATERIAL.

' Application filed November This invention relates to elastic materialsand more particularly to an elastic materialformed in part by coilsprings.

An important object of this invention is to' provide a construction inwhich, while some of the threads of-the fabric lie transversely to andupon the springs, said threads will not enter between adjacent coils ofthe springs and interfere with the contraction of said springs. Thisobject is at tained by the use of transverse threads or cords of agreater diameter or width than the spacing between adjacent coils whenthe springs are extended to the limit set for t em. The limit ofextension of the springs is determined by the length of a longitu- 4 thesprings.

- dinally extending thread or cord.

The longitudinally extending cord may consist of a single thread or ofseveral fine threads twisted together or may consist of relativelynarrow tape or other flat strips of fabric or other suitable flexiblematerial. The term cord used in this specification may define narrowstrips of leather or leather substitutes or the like as well as cottonor silk. Rubber cords may also be used for covering the springs, thoughsuch construction is not so advisable because of the rapid deteriorationof rubber.

The invention may be embodied in one form in which coil springs havetheir ends connected together by cords. The springs may be arranged in asingle longitudinally extending series or there may be a plurality ofsuch series lying side by side. When the material is'to be employed forthe manufacture-of corsets, for example, as many'as a hundred series oisprings and their connecting cords'may be employed. The series ofsprings with their connecting cords,

tapes or other connecting members may con- 18, 1925. -Serial No. 69,805.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention."

Figure 1 is .a broken'plan view of a piece of elastic materialconstructed in accordance with the provisions of this invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line indicated by 22, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged broken longituv dinal section on the lineindicated by 3-3, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a greatly enlarged "broken longitudinal section on the lineindicated by i 1, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an exaggerated perspective view to illustrate the weaving.

Figure 6 is'a plan view of a fragment of elastic material embodying theinvention in a modified form.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmental longitudinal-section on the lineindicated by 7-7, Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an enlarged transverse section on the line indicated by8--8, Figure 6.

Figure 9. is an enlarged transverse section on the line indicated by9-9, Figure 6. F igure 10 is an exaggerated perspective View toillustrate the weaving in Fig. 6.'

Figure 11 is an exaggerated perspective view to illustrate the. weavingof a third modification of the invention. Figure 12 is an exaggeratedperspective View to illustrate the weaving of a fourth modification ofthe invention.

First referring to the form of the invention disclosed in Figures 1 to-5 inclusive, there is provided any desired number, one or. more, coilsprings 16 and these springs are suitably connected at theiroppositeends to anchor pieces 17 formed by strips of fabric or othersuitable flexible material. In this instance the opposite ends of thesprings 16 are provided with eyes 18 and these eyes are secured bystitching 19 to the anchor pieces-17.

Parallel to the springs 16, between adjacent springs is a longitudinalextending thread, threads, cord or cords 20 which may be formed of anyflexible material such, for

example, as cotton, silk, leather, leather substitutes, or wire. In theinstance' shown in Figure 1, thereare three cords 20 between each twoadjacent springs. The opposite ends of the cords 20 are secured to theanch01 pieces 17 in an suitable manner. In this instance, the en s ofthe cords 20 are coils will take place.

sewed through the anchor'pieces, as clearly shown in Figure 3. The cords20 are of sufficiently greater length than the springs 16,'when said srings are contracted, so that said cords wil be slack at such times, asshown to an exaggerated degreein Figure 3. The cords 20 are, however, ofno greater length than necessary to permitof expansion or extension. ofthe springs less than.

that at which permanent set o the spring The springs 16 and cords 20constitute the warp of the fabric and said fabric also comprises fillerthreads 21 which are interwoven with the springs 16- and cords 20. Thefiller threads 21 form a sheath for the springs.

, It is to be particularly noted that the diaiheter or width of thethreads 21 is greater than the spacebetween adjacent coils of thesprings when said springs are extended to as great a length as the cords20 Wlll permit and thus the threads 21 cannot drop betion' of theinvention therein disclosed, the

elements that correspond in function to those described above will beindicated by the same reference characters with the addition oftheletter a. In this instance, the springs 16 are arranged in alongitudinal series or plurality of series, the springs of each seriesbeing connected with one another by a cord or cords 221. .The diameterof the cord 221 or combined diameters of I the cords 221, when. severalare used, is approximately the same as that of the spring 16, and someof the filler threads 21, in

this instance, pass over and under the cords 221 the same as others ofthe filler threads pass over and under the springs 16, thus to givesubstantially the same appearance tween adjacent coils of the springswhen The cords 20 being interwoven with the filler threads thus anchorsthe cords 20 at of the fabric from end to end thereof.

intervals therealong so that when the material is cut into lengths saidcords 20 will remain anchored.

Now referring to the modification illustrated in Fig. 11, the elementsthat correspond in function to those described for Figs. 1 to 5 will beindicated by the same reference characters, with the addition of theletter b. In this instance the structure is similar tothat illustratedin Figs. 6 to 10 exceptingthat the spring-connecting cords 221", Wl'llChcorres 0nd to the cords 221, are interwoven with t e filler threads thesame as are the longitudinal or warp threads 20"- members of greaterwidth than t that limit extension of the springs. In other words, duringthe weaving operation, the filler threads are passed between the cords221 Thus between .each two adjacent sets of springs 16 is'a wovenfabric, of which the longitudinal or warp threads are indicated at'20",221 and the filler threads at 21.

\ Now referring to the modification of the invention illustrated in Fig.12, the elements I that function the same as those described in Figs. 1to 5 are indicated by the same reference characters with the addition ofthe letter 0. It will be noted that the warp members 20, in thisinstance, are formed of-relatively wide tapes, cords or strips ofmaterial of rectangular cross section, there being a strip interposedbetween each two longitudinally extending series springs 16. These warpmembers 20 are interwoven with the fillerthreads 21' in the same manneras described for the warp threads 20 and filler threads 21. Theadvantage of using the strips 20 in lieu of the threads or cords 20 ofcircular cross section is that said strips will more satisfactorilyovercome the tendency of the extended springs of the different seriesfrom drawing together into a narrower band. This tendency is greaterwhen the cords are of circular cross section as said cords may rbll uponone another.

I claim: a

1. An elastic material comprising a coil spring, means to limitextension of the spring, and a flexible sheath enclosing said spring andhaving transversely extending tween adjacent coils of the sprin s whenthe springs are extended to the limit determine by said means.

2. An elastic material comprising a coil spring, anchor pieces securedto the op 0- site ends of said spring, a flexible mem er secured at itsopposite ends to the anchor pieces, said memberbei-ng slack when thespring is contracted, and transversely extending flexible memberscovering the of the spaces bespring of greater width than the spacesbethe anchor pieces are separated to the limit determined by the firstmentioned member.

' 3. An elastic material comprising a. plurality of coil springspositioned lengthwise of each other, a flexible member extending betweenthe springs and anchored at its ends, and transversely extendingflexible.

gitudinal series of coil springs, a flexible member between each twoadjacentsprmgs secured at its opposite ends to said springs,

.limit determined by said means.

5. An elastic material comprising a longitudinal series of coil springs,a plurality of flexible members between each two adjacent springssecured at their opposite ends to said springs, means to limit extensionof the springs, and a flexible sheath enclosing the springs and flexiblemembers and having transversely extending members of greater width thanthe s aces between adjacent coils of the springs w en the springs areextended to the limit determined by said means, the transverse membersbeing interwoven with the first mentioned members.

(3. An elastic material comprising a plurality o't' longitudinalseriesof coil springs, a flexible member between each two adjacent springs ofeach series secured at its 'oppositeends to said springs, a flexiblemember extending between each two adja cent series of springsandanchored at its ends, and a flexible sheath enclosing the springs andflexible members and having transversely extending members of greaterwidth than the spaces between adjacent coils of the springs when thesprings are extended to the limit determined by the second mentionedmember, the transverse members being interwoven with the first andsecond mentioned members.

7. An elastic material, comprising a longitudinal series of coilsprings, a flexible member between each two adjacent springs secured atits opposite ends to said springs, a flexible member extendinglengthwise of the springs and first mentioned members and anchored atits ends, and a flexible sheath enclosing the springs and flexiblemembers and having transversely extending members of greater width thanthe spaces between adjacent coils of the springs when the springs areextended to the limit determined by the second mentioned member, thetransverse members being interwoven with the first and second mentionedmembers.

8. An elastic material comprising a plurality of coil springs positionedlengthwise of each other, a flexible member of greater width thanthickness positioned between the springsand anchored at its ends, saidinember being slack when the springs are con tracted, and transverselyextendin flexible members covering the springs o greater width than thespaces between adjacent coils of the springs when the springs areextended to the limit determined by the first mentioned member. v

9. An elastic material comprising a plurality of coil springs positionedlengthwise of each other, a flexible member of greater width thanthickness positioned between the springs and anchored at its ends, saidmember being slack when the springs are contracted, and transverselyextending flexible members covering the springs of greater width thanthe spaces between adjacent coils of the springs whenthe springs areextended to, the ;limit determined by the first men tioned member. y

10. An elastic material comprising a plurality of longitudinal series ofcoil springs,

the series being positioned lengthwise of. each other, a flexible memberbetween each two adjacent springs of each series secured at its oppositeends to said springs, a flexible member of greater width than thicknessextending lengthwise between the springs of different series and betweentheflexible members associated with difl'erent series of the springs,the second mentioned flexible member being slack when the springs arecontracted, and transversely extending flex ible members covering thesprings of greater width than the spaces between adjacent coils v of thesprings when the springs are extended to the limit determined by thesecond mentioned member, said second mentioned member being interwovenwith the-third men-- tioned members.

11. An elastic material comprising a plurality of longitudinal series ofcoil springs, the series being positioned lengthwise of each other, aflexible member between each two adjacent springs of each series secured.at its opposite ends to said sprlngs, a flexible member extendinglengthwise between the springs of different series and between the Yflexible members associated with the different series of springs, thesecond mentioned. flexible member being slack when the springs arecontracted, and transversely extending flexible members covering thesprings of greater width than the spaces between adjacent coils of thesprings'when the springs are extended to the limit determined by thesecond mentioned member, said second mentioned member being interwovenwith the third mentioncdmembers. I

Signed at Los An eles,-Calif., this 5th day of N ovember, 192%. v

lVARR-EN H. FROST.

